Trauma is the scars you wear, visible and invisible, known and unknown.

It’s the core of the deep shame you carry, or the inexplicable fear, or the seemingly unjustified “over-reactions” you may have. It’s the tears that come to our eyes when the truth of our trauma is revealed to you- through your own words, other’s reflections, or the show you were passively watching on TV. It’s the anger, anxiety, sadness, and isolation you feel when someone makes a stupid joke. It’s the physical sensation of every ounce of your being feeling activated while somehow other parts feel numb or blind. It’s the frustration of not understanding why you are acting the way you are. It’s the depression and darkness you’ve come to know as your own self-worth. It’s the story of your strength, even if it's one you don’t share. It’s become a part of you, even if you don’t want it there.

Whatever the cause of your trauma, or however far along you are in your journey of understanding and recovering from it, it’s a valuable part of you. But, it is not you. You may be frustrated. You feel like you keep repeating the same patterns over and over again, or that you’re stuck with this absence of peace in your life. From a bird's eye view, you can understand it. You can pinpoint how the past has affected your present, but you're wondering why you can't change your issues yourself or move past it.

It’s physical, it’s emotional, it’s mental. It takes time to understand and you are the perfect navigator. It’s a privilege for others to be a part of your journey. You don’t have to include them, but it may help. On the journey of navigating your trauma, you get to decide how far or how deep you go, and who you will take with you.

For those whose trauma is too scary and painful to touch,

Don’t touch it alone. The darkest and scariest places are meant to be explored with a companion. If you’re not ready to touch it. That’s okay. We can learn how to make the most of your world around it. 

For those in the middle of trying to understand their trauma, 

It might feel like you are stuck in the middle of the most confusing maze. You started this journey, but you may be wondering if there’s actually a way out. We can work so that you feel stronger and safer while in the maze. We might even find joy there! You certainly don’t have to walk this path alone.

For those who are doubting if their trauma is really trauma, 

Self-doubt is a normal part of the game. Trauma is a full spectrum full of little T’s and Big T’s. All of your stories are worthy of being honored and explored. 

Trauma can be addressed in therapy in many different ways. A strong therapeutic relationship is the most important factor. From managing triggers, to exploring your self-worth, the client is always in control of how far the trauma work goes. EMDR is a wonderful tool for exploring trauma (from the smallest to the biggest T) and rewiring a dysfunctional belief system. EMDR can help break frustrating behavior patterns you have, reducing triggers, and reprocessing emotions and physical sensations of the past. 

If you live in South Carolina and are interested in mental health counseling, you can schedule a 20min free consultation with a licensed professional counselor by following the link below!